BRATTLEBORO — On Sunday, May 1, students from Brattleboro and across New England will converge at UI&U's Brattleboro Academic Center to take part in the university's Bachelor of Arts Weekend Option commencement.
Former UI&U B.A. core faculty member Rickey Gard Diamond, contributing editor at Vermont Woman, will serve as the guest speaker for the event.
As students in the weekend residency option, the new graduates met one weekend each month at the Brattleboro Center and completed the remainder of their coursework online. The option allowed the students – mostly working adults – to earn their degree while fulfilling job and family responsibilities.
“Most of our graduates are adult learners who did not find satisfaction at traditional schools, but who flourished at Union, where they were able to do independent and self-designed study tailored to their needs,” said Sharon Sprague, B.A. program advisor.
Brattleboro resident Elizabeth Johnson, the first recipient of Brattleboro's Women's Empowerment Scholarship, will be one of the graduates.
A single mother with a young son, Elizabeth pursued the program's Historical, Social, and Cultural Studies concentration. The primary focus of her studies was the sociological study of the single-parent family. The Women's Empowerment Scholarship that funds eligible single, female, heads-of-households, allowed her to finish ahead of schedule.
An informational 'visiting day' will take place on Saturday, April 30, from 1-3 p.m. at the Brattleboro Center for those interested in learning more about the B.A. program. The Sunday commencement will begin at 11:45 a.m.
Both events will be held at the UI&U Brattleboro Academic Center located at the Vermont Agricultural and Education Center on Old Guilford Road at 3 University Way. For more information about the Brattleboro degree programs and the B.A. commencement, contact the Brattleboro Academic Center at 802-257-9411 or email [email protected].